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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:34 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
you're far more knowledgeable about spudguns than I am.
Spudgun knowledge helps but PR skills are more important in this case.

The fact is that safely constructed spudguns are capable of doing a great deal of damage. Would an average person be comfortable with the knowledge that anyone with half a brain and a few bucks could buy over-the-counter materials and build something that could easily punch clean through someone's skull?

Of course we don't condone the shooting of living things on here and advocate the responsible use of spudguns, but what's to stop people from using the information to commit crimes? I remember someone had logged into a spudding forum wanting to make a strafer to deal with school bullies, of course such actions were lamented by everyone but we still have no control over what people do with the knowledge we share on this forum.

In the UK for example, any airgun capable of producing more than 12 ft/lbs of muzzle energy is considered a firearm by law and requires a firearm license that is not easy to obtain. Many of the projects here produce tens if not hundreds of that amount of energy. Most of the launchers on the UK spudgun forums are legally firearms, the only reason that the makers do not get into trouble with the law is because they use their launchers responsibly on their own property.

The power of media sensationalism is not to be taken lightly, an article or feature showing how easily a powerful launcher can be made is likely to cause a public outcry that will force a government to take action that won't be in our favour. In view of this, I'm comfortable with keeping this hobby a little underground. I preferred to use spudtech before spudfiles because it wasn't a public forum and access was limited to members.

I'll take the UK again as an example, as a direct result of the Dunblane massacre, the private ownership of handguns was completely banned - irrespective of the vast majority of handgun shooters being responsible individuals who enjoyed their hobby without harming anyone.

My point is that our hobby is essentually a dangerous one, if not to ourselves then most certainly to our targets, and we have little to gain by drawing the attention of the "sheeple". What if a news item suggests that terrorists could say hide a multi-barreled pneumatic launcher in a truck and use it to bombard a government facility with mortar bombs? The terrorism card is pretty sweeping.

The situation isn't as straightforward as it initially appears.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:37 am
by paaiyan
Fight the power!

I've always wanted to say that... Yes, I say we give them more than they bargained for. I do wonder how many e-mails they get every day though, and how many they normally respond to. But let's give it to them either way! Yea joanna, you and some of the others are the experts around here, but if there's anything I can help with, just let me know. I may be able to get access to some good video editing software and hardware so if you need that I can do it. Otherwise just let us all know how it goes.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:49 am
by joannaardway
Well, if we can bolt together a professional looking statement, and ideally get it featured on Youtube, then after that, people will listen to us immediately in future.

It doesn't necessarily have to be issued by Spudfiles.

Perhaps we should create a Youtube account called "Spudgunnersonline" (or "Mythspudders" might be appropriate). Presumably we'd use "codenames" for the statement that don't link to our online names.

We needn't bring bad (or any) press on Spudfiles if that's not wanted.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:52 am
by paaiyan
Good plan. Sounds sneaky... :twisted: Haha. Yea you should approach PCGUY about it and see if he wants it to be linked to spudfiles, and if not someone can just create an account on youtube for that purpose specifically. Could definitely be a good thing though.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:56 am
by joannaardway
A new youtube account would be a good thing. Saves anyone person taking fallout over it.

Well, shall I PM PCGuy then?

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:58 am
by paaiyan
I say go for it. If he doesn't want that kind of publicity then you and a few others can just put it together independently. Like I said, I'll help if there's anythign I can help with, but I'm not the expert.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:20 am
by joannaardway
Anybody and everybody that assists in any fashion will help the cause.

The PM is on it's way.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:27 am
by paaiyan
Sweet. Maybe we'll get some real attention.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:44 am
by jackssmirkingrevenge
paaiyan wrote:Sweet. Maybe we'll get some real attention.
I still insist that's not necessarily a good thing.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:46 am
by paaiyan
jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:
paaiyan wrote:Sweet. Maybe we'll get some real attention.
I still insist that's not necessarily a good thing.
Hey, as logn as we are the ones controlling how the information gets out and apperas the the public, I think it is a good thing. Besides, what if spudgunning starts to get banned?

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:59 am
by Hotwired
paaiyan wrote:
jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:
paaiyan wrote:Sweet. Maybe we'll get some real attention.
I still insist that's not necessarily a good thing.
Hey, as logn as we are the ones controlling how the information gets out and apperas the the public, I think it is a good thing. Besides, what if spudgunning starts to get banned?
Make smaller spudguns and do as the UK spudders do :wink:

The only people that visit this site are the ones in favour of it. Those that aren't will see only what the large media groups report and if they want to paint a negative picture thats what will be accepted by the general public.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:05 am
by paaiyan
So then we go underground and spread the message. Fight the power! V for Vendetta! S for Spudguns!!!

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:18 pm
by Gepard
Jesus Christ Paaiyan! Snap out of it!

Let's put this into perspective shall we?!....it was a local news report and about some guy getting killed it's not like they're banning Spudguns outright- hell, as far as I can see, it wasn't even shown countrywide! Even people who lived 15mins away weren't aware of it! Not to mention even people with no clue about SGs thought the thing was a pipebomb! There's no need to go and take over Youtube and start preaching SpudGun safety to the masses - the information is there for people that want it. You really think some jerk that's stupid enough to put solid propellant in a PVC tube is going to watch a safety video that'll get drowned in the other thousands of videos on Youtube within days?! As Hotwired said your even targeting the wrong demographic - the only way you'll have an impact is getting the news story to go live with your opinion and let's face it that's not gonna happen.

I'm sill trying to working out what it is you want from this news station. You looking for a full blown apology? I've told you - outside of this forum what he made is classed as a Spudgun. A spudgun is a device used for launching a potato which exactly what this pipe bomb the guy made was not to mention the News crew would feel like muppets if they started called bits of PVC pipe glued together firearms. It's extremely unlikely you'll get an apology - especially if you've used the same immature attitude your last posts have taken.

This is just a knee jerk reaction that will backfire and will bring unwanted attention to the hobby. Do as jackssmirkingrevenge says, sit down shut up and let it blow over. I know that in your (and others here) opinion they're wrong but starting a crusade and blanketing the internet with Spudgun safety lectures isn't going to do you any favours.

The fact that you've had hardly anyone else reply to this thread since you and Jo started up this campaign idea suggests I can't be the only one thinking this.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:20 pm
by paaiyan
Dude, that last post was pretty much a joke. Jesus, lighten up.

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:48 pm
by spud yeti
Gepard, Im sorry but that was pretty uncalled for!
Although what you said was pretty much true (if not highly pessimistic), I actually agree with paaiyan and joanna to a certain extent, in that if the news realsises their mistake, they wont make it again.

I dont expect them to make an apology, broadcast, or anything else official for that matter; I think they will just gain knowlegde for the future. The youtube idea is pretty good, because if you think about it, what harm can it really do!?

And anyways, can't you see a small joke and some exageration when you see it (I thought it was pretty funny paaiyan)